Life back in South Africa has thus far proved to be an uphill battle for disbarred celebrity lawyer Peet Viljoen and his wife Melany (Mel), with Peet not only fighting for his liberty once again, but with the taxman apparently now also after Mel.
An officer of the South African Revenue Service was in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Thursday and met briefly with Mel during a break at court in connection with alleged outstanding tax returns. The details are not known and, when asked about it later, Mel said, “let us rather concentrate at this stage on Peet’s bail”.
The couple is also facing legal pressure involving the South African Tammy Taylor franchise saga, with several investors claiming that they had invested large sums of money in the salon franchises, which never materialised.
While some of these case dockets had been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority on a decision whether to prosecute or not, the prosecution, in opposing bail, submitted several statements by these alleged victims – some who claimed they were in the past intimidated by Viljoen. He, meanwhile, vehemently denied this.
Viljoen was taken to prison following his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport after being deported from America on June 16. He is facing 400 charges, including fraud, theft, corruption, forgery and uttering, linked to an alleged R27,6 million Johannesburg Property Company property fraud scheme.
The couple, known for their flashy lifestyle as portrayed by them in the past on social media, will have to rely on Viljoen’s sister for a place to stay if he is released on bail, as he has no fixed address of his own in the country. While the prosecution argued he has no fixed address, Viljoen said this is a lie as he and Mel will stay with his sister in Olympus, Pretoria.
According to prosecutor Willem van Zyl, “it is logical” that Viljoen should not receive bail, as he is a flight risk. He referred to the couple’s departure to the United States last year and to posts in which Viljoen stated that he will never return to South Africa.
But Viljoen disputed this and said throughout this time it was clear for all to see where they were as they were active on social media. However, some of these online posts came back to haunt Viljoen – especially those in which he was outspoken about South Africa and its people. Viljoen, however, argued that it is his constitutional right to be outspoken and added that these posts have nothing to do with whether he should be released on bail.
In his plea for bail, Viljoen said he is prepared to pay a total of R200,000 bail – R150,000 now and the State can use the other R50,000 on which he was already released 16 years ago on the same charges he is facing now.
The court was also told that Viljoen is prepared to remain under house arrest, and he will report daily to the police if the court orders this.
While appearing upbeat at the start of Thursday’s court proceedings, Viljoen appeared less so as Magistrate Nicca Setshogoe ordered him to remain in prison until August 17 when she will deliver her judgment regarding bail. She acknowledged that bail is an urgent matter but said she needed time to consider further documents relating to the case.
Mel appeared to be her husband’s rock, sitting in the public gallery. She handed him water and notes, and addressed him as “my love”.
